Indonesian Navy Foils The Smuggling Of Illegal Migrant Workers In Riau

JAKARTA - The Dumai Navy Base F1QR Joint Team (Lanal) and the Navy Security and Encryption Service Task Force Team (Satgas Dispamsanal) thwarted the illegal departure of prospective Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) in Bengkalis Regency, Riau.

The joint team managed to find as many as 22 people consisting of 8 men and 14 women on the coast of Sepahat Beach, Bengkalis Regency, Riau Province, who were preparing to be dispatched to Malaysia.

On the same day, Lanal Tanjung Balai Asahan also managed to thwart the departure of 75 illegal PMIs.

Chronologically, on Monday (28/2) at around 19.00 WIB, the team received information from agents in the field regarding the planned departure of illegal PMI candidates to Malaysia via the coast.

Then, at 21.00 WIB, the Commander of the Dumai Navy Base (Danlanal) Marine Colonel (P) Himawan ordered the team to move to the location suspected to be the departure camp by land.

Arriving at the location, the team immediately carried out a sweep into the palm oil forest to the shoreline and at 23.00 WIB managed to find and secure 22 illegal PMI candidates who were gathering in a camp on the shores of Sepahat Beach.

Then, the PMI candidates were taken to Mako Lanal Dumai for identity, physical, luggage, and health checks. Furthermore, Danlanal Dumai coordinated with the Dumai Police and BP2MI to further investigate the illegal PMI.

Meanwhile, in a separate place, the Commander of the Indonesian Navy Main Base (Lantamal) I First Admiral Johanes Djanarko Wibowo said that the Navy would carry out continuous patrols, especially in areas that were suspected to be a route in and out of rats, whether it was in the form of foreign commodities. country, illegal goods, even drugs and the smuggling of illegal migrant workers that occurred in the working area of Lantamal I.

"The Navy will not compromise on matters that threaten state sovereignty, criminal acts, and violations at sea," he stressed, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, March 1.

Lantamal I and his staff will always support the policy of the Chief of Naval Staff (Kasal) Admiral Yudo Margono by not neglecting and preventing illegal activities such as illegal PMI which is still happening.

Previously, the Indonesian Navy in January 2022 thwarted 52 illegal PMIs and in early February 2022 as many as 34 illegal PMIs.